Lingaraja Temple Bhubaneswar
Somavamshi to Eastern Ganga 11th c. (c.1090–1104 peak)·Kalinga Hindu (Odisha)·🇮🇳 Odisha, India
About
About Lingaraja Temple Bhubaneswar
Lingaraja (c.1090–1114) – tallest Kalinga deula (55m) in Bhubaneswar's Ekamra Kshetra, housing Svayambhu linga (Shiva) revered as both Shiva and Vishnu (Harihara). Rekha curvilinear vimana, pidha jagamohana, natamandir and bhogamandapa quadrangle, bounded by 520-temple Tank Bindusagar. Kalinga sikhara ribbed amalaka and bhumi-amla mouldings define Odishan architecture.
Why it mattersLargest and most canonical Kalinga-Hindu temple and Ekamra axis
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Construction labor organization
- 02Chronology and phasing
Theories
- 01Ceremonial centre and cosmological alignment
- 02Territorial marker and ritual landscape
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.1090–1114 under Jajati Keshari / Anantavarman
- Period
- Somavamshi to Eastern Ganga 11th c. (c.1090–1104 peak)
- Culture
- Kalinga Hindu (Odisha)
- Builders
- Somavamshi / Ganga architects
- Purpose
- Shiva Lingaraja state temple, Ekamra Kshetra pilgrimage axis
- Excavation
- Excavated
c.1090–1114 under Jajati Keshari / Anantavarman
Initial construction
On the ground
Structures & features
20.2381° N · 85.8336° E · 45 m · 3 mapped features
Rekha Vimana Tower
vimana55m curvilinear sikhara with amalaka and kalasha
20.2383° N · 85.8337° EJagamohana Pidha Roof
hallPyramidal pidha-roofed assembly hall before vimana
20.2380° N · 85.8338° EBindusagar Tank
tankTank linking 520 temples around Ekamra field
20.2387° N · 85.8340° E